CANTON, OH (July 24, 2010) – The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff will have a variety of food vendor booths at the Stark County Fairgrounds on Aug. 4, 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.
Rib and specialty vendors will occupy 34 booths.
Rib vendors will compete to win top prizes as judged by more than 80 judges on Wednesday and Thursday, with the following awards to be announced on Thursday at approximately 5 p.m.:

* Most Outstanding Ribs Award (plaque and $2,500)

* Mayor’s Award (plaque and $1,000)

* Best Sauce Award (plaque and $500)

The Best Sauce Award winner will judged by seven professional area chefs. In addition, a “People’s Choice Award” will be given based on surveys taken by an anonymous, independent group who will survey the general public at the event to determine the Ribs Burnoff best ribs according to the populace. The winning vendor will receive a plaque and “bragging rights” for the remainder of the event.
Five restaurants and caterers from Stark County will be serving ribs and competing for the prizes, including Chariot of Fire, Jack on the Bone Rib Team, Main Street Grill, Old Carolina Barbecue Co. and Two Fat Guys. Armadillo’s (2009 Most Outstanding Rib winner) is an Ohio vendor (Youngstown, Ohio), and out-of-state participants include Gator’s BBQ (Port Dover, Ontario, Canada), Texas Pit BBQ (Willis, Texas), Toys for Tots--Starcon (Manhattan, Ill.), and Susie’s BBQ (Falcon, N.V.).
Specialty food vendors will occupy 13 booths, including Big D’s Concessions, Baja Pizzafish, Big Kahuna’s/Cream A Lot, Casto Concessions, DeStefano’s Concessions, DG Concessions, DiRusso Concessions, Island Delights, Jack & Rich French Fries, Lil John’s Concessions, Ooey Gooey Concessions and Sipe Concessions/DiRusso Sausage.
Admission to the Ribs Burnoff is free. On-site parking at the fairgrounds is free each day until 4 p.m., when a fee of $5 per vehicle will be charged. In addition to great food, the event will feature national musical entertainment:

Free, standing room only viewing is available on the track in front of the stage, or reserved grandstand seats can be purchased for just $8 at the Chamber office, 222 Market Ave. N, in downtown Canton from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and at the event each day at the souvenir booth or in the evening at the “will call” center at the north end of the grandstand.
In addition to the national musical acts, attendees can enjoy activities all day on the expanded Ohio Lottery Day Stage, featuring free musical entertainment from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Performers include True Blue on Wednesday, Wild West Band on Thursday and Mr. Trick on Friday. Other family activities include an expansive children’s entertainment area with face painting, caricaturists, balloon twisters, Fantasy Football Zone of interactive inflatables powered by AEP Ohio, master sand sculptor, Lowe’s Build & Grow, U.S. Army Special Forces interactive unit, Xbox 360 Kinect Experience Tour and much more.
For more information, call Laura Perry at 330-458-2054, or visit the Enshrinement Festival Web site at www.profootballhofef.com.